Law No. (7) of 2018 Concerning the Reorganisation of the Department of Economic Development

Article 1 — In the implementation of the provisions of this Law, the following words and ¶

phrases shall have the meanings corresponding thereto unless the context
requires otherwise:
State : The United Arab Emirates.
Emirate : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Executive
Council
: The Executive Council of the Emirate.
Department : The Department of Economic Development.
Economic
Sector
: Any commercial, industrial, craftful, professional,
agricultural or service activity or any activity that
may be exercised in accordance with the applicable
legislations.
Affiliates : The entities operating in the Economic Sector that
are affiliated to the Department under its control and
supervision, and which are specified by a resolution of
the Executive Council.
Section (2)
Objectives and Competencies of the Department

Article 2 — The Department shall aim at achieving the following: ¶

• Work towards sustainable economic development in the Emirate by
adopting the principles of knowledge economy.
• Regulate the sector of business and economic affairs and propose related
policies and legislations.

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• Set the development programs, plans and projects through supporting
the innovation, adopting the best economic and administrative practices,
employing the best human resources, and draw upon the international
technology and expertise in this field.
• Work towards the realisation of the economic interests of the Emirate
through the cooperation with the specialised international and regional
organisations and promote the competitiveness of the Emirate on the
regional and international level.
• Create an economic environment based on the accuracy and transparency
of information and the use of technology in a manner to enable companies
and institutions to benefit from information technology and identify the
investment opportunities available in the Emirate.
• Provide a suitable environment for investment by contributing to the
preparation of marketing and promotional plans and raise the economic
and investment awareness.

Article 3 — • In order to achieve its objectives, the Department shall assume the ¶

following competencies:
1. Propose the strategic and implementing plans for the Economic
Sector in the Emirate, have them approved by the Executive Council
and supervise their implementation.
2. Follow-up the Affiliates’ undertaking to implement the strategic and
implementing plans for the Economic Sector.
3. Monitor and supervise all the Affiliates such as their disbursements
from their budgets and revenues earned, as well as their commitment
to their duties and competencies, and approve their strategic and
implementing plans.

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4. Regulate the Economic Sector in all aspects through the development
of policies, standards, regulations, resolutions and implementing and
operational circulars for said Sector.
5. Monitor and supervise the Economic Sector in accordance with the
relevant legislations, conventions and treaties in force for said Sector
on the local and international levels, and in coordination with the
relevant entities in the State and abroad.
6. License all entities, companies and persons working in the Economic
Sector and monitor their commitment to providing the optimum level
of quality of services in accordance with the legislations in force, and
in coordination with the relevant entities.
7. Propose the fees, tariffs and prices related to its competencies and
submit them to the Executive Council for approval, in accordance
with the applicable regulations.
8. Submit periodic reports and analytical studies to Abu Dhabi Executive
Office in relation to the Department's competencies.
9. Encourage investments and partnerships with the private sector
for projects related to the competencies of the Department in
coordination with the relevant entities.
10. Any other competencies or duties assigned thereto by the Executive
Council.
• The Department may delegate some of its competencies to any other
governmental entity or outsource some to the private sector upon the
approval of the Executive Council.

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Article 4 — • The Chairman of the Executive Council shall issue a resolution to specify ¶

any additional competencies of the Department.
• The Executive Council may amend the Department’s competencies
mentioned in this Law or in any other legislation by deletion, addition or
transfer.

Article 5 — All persons, entities and public and private companies shall provide the ¶

Department with the documents and information it requires to carry out or
execute its competencies.

Article 6 — The Executive Council shall issue a resolution to specify the Affiliates falling ¶

under the monitoring and supervision of the Department.
Section (3)
General Provisions

Article 7 — In agreement with the Chairman of the Department, the Chairman of ¶

Abu Dhabi Judicial Department shall issue a resolution specifying the
Department’s officers who have been granted the law enforcement authority
for offences within their jurisdiction. They shall have the right to inspect
and monitor all entities, companies and persons operating in the Economic
Sector, in order to verify the implementation of the provisions of this Law
and its implementing regulations, resolutions and circulars.

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Article 8 — • No natural or legal person may exercise any activity related to the ¶

Economic Sector without having obtained the required license from the
Department.
• Whoever violates the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be
sentenced to imprisonment for a period of no less than three months and
no more than one year and to a fine of no less than AED (40,000) forty
thousand and no more than AED (100,000) one hundred thousand or to
either of the two penalties.

Article 9 — • Should the establishment delay the renewal of its license for more than ¶

one month from its expiry date, it shall be sentenced to an administrative
fine of AED (200) two hundred for each month of delay or part thereof
up to a maximum of AED (4,000) four thousand. The Department may
close the facility whose licence has expired for a period exceeding three
months.
• The Department may exempt the licensee from the license fees for the
period of non-renewal if the licensee submits a proof of non-exercise of
the activity throughout the period of stoppage.

Article 10 — • Without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for by any other ¶

law, an administrative fine of no more than AED (10,000,000) ten million
shall be imposed on whoever violates the provisions of this Law and its
regulatory and implementing rules as well as its implementing regulations,
policies, resolutions and circulars.
• The Department shall take charge of collecting the administrative

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fines. Upon the approval of the Executive Council, the Chairman of
the Department shall issue a schedule specifying the offences and the
administrative fines prescribed for each of them, without exceeding the
fine provided for in this Article.
• The Chairman of the Department or whom he authorises, may propose
reconciliation to the offender, provided that this is established in the
record of proceedings. The offender who accepts reconciliation shall pay
a fine equivalent to 75% of the total administrative fine determined for
the offence within a period not exceeding sixty days from the date of
proposing the reconciliation.
• In all cases, if the offender fails to remove the effects of the offence on
the date scheduled, the Department shall remove such effects at the
expense of the offender.
• The regulatory and implementing rules of this Law shall specify the
procedures of the above-mentioned reconciliation, including the
timeframes.

Article 11 — • The Department may impose any of the following administrative penalties: ¶

1. Notice.
2. Warning.
3. Placing the establishment under financial, administrative and technical
supervision.
4. Temporary suspension of the activity.
5. Cancellation or suspension of the licence.
6. closing the establishment temporarily or permanently.
• Grievances may be filed against the administrative penalties before the
Department within sixty days from the date of notification of the grievant.

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Failure to decide upon the grievance within 90 days from the date of its
submission shall be regarded as an acceptance of the grievance.
• The regulatory and implementing rules of this Law shall determine the
procedures and controls for the application of the aforesaid administrative
penalties.

Article 12 — The Department shall propose its organisational structure and submit it ¶

to the Executive Council for approval, in accordance with the applicable
regulations.

Article 13 — • The financial laws and regulations in force in the Emirate shall apply to the ¶

Department.
• The human resources laws and regulations in force in the Emirate shall
apply to the employees of the Department.
• The Civil Retirement Pensions and Benefits law in force in the Emirate
shall apply to the nationals.

Article 14 — • Upon the approval of the Executive Council, the Chairman of the ¶

Department shall issue the regulatory and implementing rules of this Law.
• The policies, regulations, rules, resolutions and circulars in force shall
remain applicable in a manner consistent with the provisions of this
Law until the issuance of its implementing policies, regulations, rules,
resolutions and circulars.
• The Chairman of the Department shall issue the implementing and
operational policies of this Law.

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Article 15 — • The aforesaid Law No. (2) of 2009 shall be repealed. ¶

• The Schedule of Violations attached to the aforesaid Law No. (2) of 2009
and any amendments thereto shall remain in force unless amended in
accordance with the provisions of this Law.
• Any text or provision, prescribed in the legislations establishing Affiliates,
which is contrary to the provisions of this Law, shall be repealed.
• Any text or provision contrary to the provisions of this Law shall be
repealed.

Article 16 — This Law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and shall be published ¶

in the Official Gazette.
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 20 February 2018
Corresponding to: 4 Jumada Al Akher 1439 H
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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